Disney Revisits A Technology It Pioneered to Celebrate the Opening of The Magic of Disney Animation
The Magic of Disney Animation is officially open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, giving guests a permanent place to celebrate the unparalleled legacy and ineffable…well, magic of Walt Disney Animation Studios.
What makes the studio so consequential not only to Disney, as an entity, but to film as a medium is its innovations to the art form. Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) was the first cel-animated feature ever produced, laying the foundation for an entire style of filmmaking.
And in order to produce a product for which there was no predecessor, the company had to craft its own systems and technologies. One such innovation was the multiplane camera.
Photo: Peta Pixel
First used in the 1937 short The Old Mill, the multiplane camera allowed animators to create a sense of depth by quite literally placing characters, objects, and backgrounds at different distances from the camera.
The technology allowed for the movement of individual layers at varying speeds, creating the illusion of depth. It’s a rather simple idea when considered 90 years after its conception, but it’s an innovation that gave the company’s films a sense of beauty and immersion that endures even a century later.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Disney has rolled out a version of the multiplane camera technology to commemorate the opening of The Magic of Disney Animation.
Disney Captures Multiplane Camera Image to Celebrate The Magic of Disney Animation
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Those who produced the video used the technology to re-create the poster that was unveiled alongside the attraction’s announcement last year.
Here’s what that poster looks like:
Photo: Disney
And here’s the re-creation:
Photo: Walt Disney World Instagram
The video showcases how the characters were placed at different distances from the lens to create a sense of depth.
It’s perhaps not a flawless representation of the technology, but it’s a neat video, nevertheless!
More About The Magic of Disney Animation
This multiplane camera clip perfectly embodies the spirit of The Magic of Disney Animation. The entire attraction is a celebration of the studio’s legacy, innovations, and cultural contributions.
Here’s a list of some of the experiences available inside the attraction:
- Olaf Draws!
- Once Upon a Studio Theater
- Off the Page!
- Drawn to Wonderland play area
- The Enchanted Gallery
- Treasures Untold and the Gallery Wrap Party
- The Studio Store
Olaf Draws!
As always, be sure to keep an eye on MickeyBlog for the latest on all things Disney.
